Culinary Journey into the Amazonas Region

Day One

Order of activitites subject to change depending on dates book and schedule changes with domestic flights between Lima and Jaen.

• Arrival to Lima and transfer to your 3-star hotel. Your escort will give you an overview of the week as you make your way to your hotel.
• Dinner on your own.
• Overnight.

Day Two

• Early light breakfast, and pick-up at your hotel at 8 am.
• This morning, enjoy a culinary walking tour through the historic city center. You will sample more than 13 Peruvian foods and drinks. All are popular on-the-go dining options among locals. Watch out, this is not the typical pisco sour and ceviche tour! We take you slightly off the beaten path food wise, while going through the Historic Center of Lima. You will discover Peru’s capital main square (Plaza de Armas) and many historic buildings! The best tour to connect with Peru’s history and local culture.
• Transfer to the airport for your flight to Jaen. Arrival in Jaen and transfer to the region of Amazonas (about 4 hours).
• Arrival at the hotel Tambo Sapalanchan, this charming 3-star hotel. The lovely rooms and beautiful view will make you feel at home immediately.
• Settle in, relax and have dinner at the restaurant.

Day Three

• This morning you have time to explore the hotel garden, where over 1 000 trees have been replanted since the hotel was built, as well as the herbal and grocery garden. After that, it will be time for your cooking class.
• This will be a hands-on cooking class and you will be directly in their professional kitchen. After the class, you have lunch based on your efforts.
• In the afternoon 45-minute drive to the village of Cruzpata from where you will hike to see the Sarcophagi of Karajia (about 30 minutes downhill hike, 45 minutes uphill). Return to the hotel and some rest.
• When you feel relaxed, come back to the restaurant for your Peruvian cocktail class with Paul. Guess what? It will be with Pisco!
• Dinner at the hotel and overnight.

Day Four

• Today you will visit one of the region’s most spectacular archeological sites: Kuelap. You leave in the morning from Tambo Sapalanchan for a one-hour drive to Tingo Nuevo. From there you will take the new cable car, inaugurated in March 2017, to go up to Kuelap.
• From the arrival station you walk about 30 minutes to the enormous wall of Kuelap.
• You then have a guided visit of the fortified city of the Chachapoya civilization for about 2 – 3 hours and learn all about their traditions and beliefs and enjoy the beautiful 360° view.
• In the afternoon, drive to the house of Perico and his mother Lola, at ACP Milpuj. This is a private nature reserve, where you can plant a tree (you will get an adoption certificate) and talk with Perico about his efforts in reforestation, raising awareness and sustainability in general.
• Dinner at Milpuj.

Day Five

• Breakfast at Pericos. You then have a one-hour drive to Leymebamba, where you will first visit the famous Mummy Museum. Here you will find over 200 mummies from the archaeological site Laguna de los Condores, as well as more information about the Chachapoya civilization and the arrival of the Inca in this region.
• After the museum visit you will join a local lady to learn how to make tamales, a typical regional dish. It is made out of a corn paste in which you can incorporate some chicken or pork and then wrap it into a banana leaf before putting to boil. You can help or watch, just as you prefer, as you will realize that the wrapping part is very tricky !
• You have lunch with the family and then participate in a weaving demonstration with the ladies from Leymebamba. You will learn about the weaving process from the wool to the final product. In the Andes, the ladies weave with a hand stool, so you will try this out.
• In the afternoon, return to Milpuj for some rest before dinner and overnight.

Day Six

• Breakfast at Pericos before you are leaving for Chachapoyas, more precisely to Huancas, 15 minutes from Chachapoyas. You will visit this little village with a great pottery tradition and the close by Sonche Canyon, one of the highest in the Peruvian Amazonia with over 800 m depth. Impressive view over the Canyon.
• Return to Chachapoyas, where you will have time for lunch on your own.
• At 3 pm, you will meet at the restaurant Amazonika in Chachapoyas for a personalized cooking-class with local chef Gaby.
• You will first depart to the local market where you will learn about the different types of fruits, vegetables, potatoes commonly used in our regional and national cuisine. You will then start your cooking class with a lesson of a local cocktail. Later, you will start your culinary experience. You will prepare some traditional Peruvian dishes, with a modern twist, always guided by our Peruvian chef, the last step of the class will be a typical Peruvian dessert.

Day Seven

• This morning you have some free time in Chachapoyas. The perfect opportunity to stroll around the pedestrian area and find some last souvenirs for your loved ones.
• Around 12 noon, transfer back to the airport of Jaen (4 hours) for your flight back to Lima at 5 pm (flight not included, to be confirmed at time of booking). If you’d like to extend your stay in Lima, we are happy to arrange a hotel in Lima for the night.